Ace Cannon
| Ace Cannon | |
|---|---|
|
Ace Cannon in 1968 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Cannon |
| Born |
May 5, 1934 Grenada, Mississippi |
| Origin | United States |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Labels | Hi |
 Oral History, Ace Cannon talks about the origin of the song,Tuff. Interview date October 10, 2012, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library |
John "Ace" Cannon (born May 5, 1934 in Grenada, Mississippi) is an American tenor and alto saxophonist. He played and toured with Hi Records stablemate Bill Black's Combo, and started a solo career with his record "Tuff" in 1961, using the Black combo as his backing group. "Tuff" hit #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1962, and the follow-up single "Blues (Stay Away from Me)" hit #36 that same year.[1] In April 1965, he released Ace Cannon Live (HL 12025); according to the liner notes by Nick Pesce the album was recorded in front of a live audience inside Hi's recording studio, and Pesce claims this was the first time such an album had ever been recorded (as opposed to previous live albums recorded in concert venues).
Cannon was inducted into both the Rock and Soul Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000.[2] In May 2007, his hometown of Calhoun City, Mississippi, hosted its first annual Ace Cannon Festival, and on December 9, 2008, he was honored with induction into the Mississippi Musicians' Hall Of Fame.
After years of travelling and entertaining fans the world over, he moved back to Calhoun City in the late 1980s and resides there today. He still plays numerous dates each year, and can be found most days working on his golf game at his home course.
Discography
Albums
- 1962 - Tuff Sax (US Hot Albums #24)
- 1964 - Plays the Great Show Tunes
- 1964 - Aces Hi
- 1965 - Live
- 1966 – Christmas Cheers from Ace Cannon (US Hot Albums #44)
- 1966 - Sweet & Tuff
- 1967 - Memphis Golden Hits
- 1969 - Ace of Sax
- 1973 - Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 1961 | "Tuff" A | 17 | Tuff Sax |
| 1962 | "Blues (Stay Away From Me)" | 36 | |
| "Sugar Blues" | 92 | Singles only | |
| "Volare" | 107 | Looking Back With Ace Cannon | |
| 1963 | "Since I Met You Baby" | 130 | Singles only |
| "Cotton Fields" | 67 | Ace Hi | |
| "Swanee River" | 103 | ||
| 1964 | "Searchin'" | 84 | |
| "Empty Arms" | 120 | Nashville Hits | |
| 1965 | "Sea Cruise" | 135 | Singles only |
| 1966 | "Funny How Time Slips Away" | 102 | Sweet and Tuff |
| 1968 | "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" | 110 | Incomparable Sax |
| 1977 | "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" B | — | Peace In the Valley |
- A Peaked at #3 on US R&B charts
- B Peaked at #73 on US Country Singles
References
- ↑ Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7th edn, 2000
- ↑ "RAB Hall of Fame: Ace Cannon". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 2014-08-20.